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Musharraf ‘greatest supporter of LeT’

Former president Pervez Musharraf has declared that he is the greatest supporter of proscribed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The declaration of support for LeT, Jamaatud Dawa and its chief Hafiz Saeed, who was recently released from house arrest, was made during a discussion pertaining to Musharraf’s recently announced 23-party ‘grand alliance’ on a Private TV channel programme.
During the talk show, the host pointed out that it will be “an interesting visual” to see Musharraf ? “enlightened moderation, liberal outlook” ? sitting next to leaders of parties such as Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Sunni Itehad Council and Pakistan Sunni Tehreek ? “parties with religious colours.”“You are describing me as a liberal , Yes, I am. These are my thoughts,” the former president said. “That does not mean I am against all religious parties.”
“I am the greatest supporter of LeT and I know they [LeT and JuD] are fond of me,” he said. When asked if he “liked” JuD chief Hafiz Seed, the former president said that he does and that he has met with him.“Because I have always been in favour of action in Kashmir and I have always been in favour of pressuring the Indian army in Kashmir. This is the biggest force and they have been declared terrorists by India and the US jointly,” Musharraf said, explaining his stance.
The former president went on to deny that LeT was involved in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai ? an allegation leveled by India and supported by Washington. During the interview, the former president said that Washington’s statement following Saeed’s release last week was an “insult to Pakistan’s sovereignty.” —INP